Gender Sensitivity

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Gender Sensitivity

Need for Gender Sensitization

Gender sensitization is very important in these changing times. Women and men both play a key role at home, office and in society. Therefore, it is important that both feel valued in society and lead a dignified life. Gender insensitivity and inequality in terms of difference in salary/wages, organisational culture, etc., are major factors that lead to a decline in productivity and increase absenteeism and staff turnover rate in an organisation. When both genders feel empathetic towards each other, it creates a positive culture at home, workplace and in society. Gender sensitization can lead to gender justice, equality and inclusion.

India and the Gender Gap Index Report 2021

As per the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2021, India slipped 28 places to rank 140th among 156 countries. In 2020, India had ranked 112th among 153 countries. As per the report, India has closed 62.5% of its gender gap till date. The report evaluates gender-based gaps based on four areas: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. In addition, it examines the factors that drive gender gaps and outlines the policies and practices that are required for a gender-inclusive recovery. 

Benefits of Gender Sensitization

Gender sensitization can help in the following ways:

• Develops mutual respect and empathy towards the opposite gender
• Can help in decreasing violence and crimes against men, women, transgenders and other marginalised communities
• Helps in changing the attitude and mindset of individuals
• Boosts morale of employees in a workspace (especially women).
• Removes gender biases
• It will advance gender equality
• Improves women’s job market participation rate
• Create a more inclusive society
• Will give better decision-making power to women
• Helps in improving the mental health of individuals

How to teach gender sensitivity and inclusion?

Gender sensitization should take place from a young age. Parents and Teachers should pay special attention to ensure that children do not follow the gender biases that are generally followed in the community or society. Gender sensitivity and inclusion can be taught in the following ways:

• Conducting gender sensitisation sessions and workshops at schools, colleges, workplace etc
• Making topics related to gender equality and sensitisation part of the school and college curriculum
• Using gender neutral language at home, school/college, workplace etc
• Training parents and teachers (school and college) about what they should teach children directly and indirectly
• School and college textbooks should be free from gender biases
• To educate and empower both women and men to become more inclusive and empathetic towards each other by making them aware of how to tackle stereotyping and unconscious biases, gender inclusion in the workplace and even aspects of the POSH Act.
• Making use of gender neutral terms or variable or non-binary pronouns like ‘they’ at college, workspace etc. This not only helps in unboxing gender identity but also encourages empathy and makes colleagues non-judgemental.
• Setting up Gender Sensitisation and Internal Complaints Committee (GSICC) at workplace, colleges etc
• Laying down policy to prevent gender discrimination and sexual harassment of any individual.

Laws in India that Help in Gender Sensitization

The Government of India has taken several steps by passing various Acts to create gender equality and teach gender sensitivity. A list of important Acts passed by the parliament are given below: 

• Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act (POSH Act)
• The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976
• The Hindu Succession Act, 1956
• The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 (Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 was amended)
• The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961
• The Criminal Law Amendment Act,  2013

Constitution of India and Gender Equality

The Constitution of India contains provisions that aim to create gender justice and equality. Some of the important Articles that ensure that all individuals are treated equally and with dignity are:

• Article 14: Equality before law- The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth
• Article 15:   Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth
• Article 19: (1)(g) ‘To practice any profession or to carry out any occupation, trade or business’.
• Article 21: Protection of life and personal liberty- No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law
• Article 42: Provision for just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief – The State shall make provision for securing just and humane conditions of work and for maternity relief.
• Article 51A:  It shall be the duty of every citizen of India: (e) to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women
• Article 32: Remedies for enforcement of rights conferred by this Part: 

 

Our college is women's college so no discriminations in this college, but in society, hoome and work places there are lot discriminations, so we give awareness to students regarding Gender Sensitivity. we conduct sessions regarding this. men and women both are equal both have feminine and musculine qualities, according to the gender they may have more qualities than other type qualify, but here what is equality means, should bring balance inbetween both the qualities that is equality. should not fight outside world for equality, should fight inner for euality to bring balance between both the qualities, if every one do like this, then automatically in outer world will automatically changes.